HASTINGS, Warren (1732-1818). Governor-general of India.
Autograph Letter Signed to Richard Cosway RA (ca 1742-1821, artist and collector), 2 pages 4to with integral address-leaf, Daylesford House, 15 January 1805. Asking him to complete his work on the portrait of Lord Fife and other pictures.

'Lord Fife has done me the honor to ask my consent to have your portrait of him engraved. You will oblige me by ... expediting what remains of finishing the original. Will you have the goodness to let me know in what forwardness the other portraits are? You are fortunate, that I am not likely to be soon in town; for I should be very importunate and very troublesome. That I may lay in my claim to a preference in your exertions, I beg leave to apprize you, that I am almost a month past my 72nd year, & wish much to have my collection completed before I die. ...'

No portrait of Fife (James Duff, second Earl Fife, 1729-1809) by Cosway is recorded in 'likenesses' in Oxford DNB. Copies of the mezzotint by Robert Dunkarton are held by the National Portrait Gallery, which also owns the head-and-shoulders ivory miniature portrait of Warren Hastings by Cosway dated 1787.
[No: 24293]